The wait is over. From June 14th we start to get serious. At the Luzhniki Stadium will be staging the inauguration of this 2018 World Russia competition, with an inaugural match between the hosts of Russia and the eastern Saudi Arabia, valid for group A.

Russia coached by Stanislav Čerčesov, has the goal to qualify for the round of 16, having one of the groups of affordable the event. Egypt and Thursday’s adversary, such as Saudi Arabia, represent 2 teams well within reach for the Soviets, who are only inferior to “albiceleste” Uruguay. The hosts, however, did not make any qualifying competition, and the friendlies who played so far speak 3 draws and 4 losses in the last 7 races, with a victory that is missing from 4 to 2 against South Korea last 7 October. It would serve much more, to raise the stakes and play a place among the best 16. The form with which the Soviets will appear on the field seems to be 3 – 5 – 2, with the expert block represented by Akinfeev in the door, the immortal Ignashevich among the 3 in defense, together with his partner at CSKA, Mario Fernandes. In attack, Smolov and Dzyuba favorites for 2 knits from the first minute.
Saudi Arabia, a team from the Middle East trained by the former Argentine footballer Juan Antonio Pizzi, appear, at least at the start, as the light of group A. The matches (not simple) lost against Italy, Germany and Peru, have represented a good test bench, for a training that has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. They may not represent a threat, but you know … the ball is round. For the race scheduled for Thursday, the Middle East should line up with 4 – 2 – 3 – 1, with players mostly in the Arab league.

Russia – Saudi Arabia Prediction

The debut game sees, with little doubt, a favored Russia, at least on paper. The last performances carried out during the international friendlies, however, do not leave a lot of security on a very precarious defensive department, and that could also succumb in front of a team that has been able to score both to Germany and Italy. For this reason, we are inclined for a 1X double with Gol, not excluding even the possibility of a draw for 1 to 1.